Orange Order: Twelfth parades pass off peacefully in North

Marchers staged a peaceful protest as bands played music and supporters cheered

An Orange Order parade on Crumlin Road adjacent to the nationalist Ardoyne neighbourhood as part of the annual Twelfth of July celebrations, marking the victory of King William III's victory over James II at the Battle of the Boyne in 1690. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Saturday July 12, 2014. Up to 50 protest parades are planned by the Orange Order across Northern Ireland today to voice anger at the determination by the Government appointed adjudication body to prevent Orangemen passing a section of the Crumlin Road that sits adjacent to the nationalist Ardoyne neighbourhood. See PA story ULSTER Politics. Photo credit should read: Brian Lawless/PA Wire (Photo: Brian Lawless/PA Wire)

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The contentious Orange Order parade in North Belfast passed off without incident tonight for the first time in years.

Marchers staged a peaceful protest as bands played music and supporters cheered a short distance from where they were barred from a section of the mainly nationalist Ardoyne area.

Senior Orangemen read a statement at each of the main march locations across Northern Ireland, accusing the Parades Commission of “tainting” the democratic process.

They also pledged to “make Northern Ireland a better place” by getting rid of a watchdog unpopular with unionists.

Addressing the crowd in Ardoyne, a spokesman said: “Republican violence has been rewarded and Loyal Order compliance penalised in a clear and continuing trend.”

Marchers observed a six-minute silence – the amount of time it would take the parade to walk past the Ardoyne shop fronts – to protest the watchdog’s decision, but the crowds dispersed quickly and traffic was flowing freely within an hour.

The sectarian interface has been a flashpoint for violence in recent years. But ahead of yesterday’s march, politicians from across the political divide appealed for calm in the area, which saw days of rioting last year after the Parades Commission ruled bands would not be allowed past a certain point.

Despite last night’s calm, police were out in force to see off any trouble, but barriers were used to block off the road rather than the Land Rovers seen 12 months ago.

In total, 3,500 officers were on the ground across Northern Ireland as tens of thousands endured the wet weather for the main Twelfth processions in Limavady, Co Derry, Markethill, Co Armagh, Larne, Co Antrim, and North Belfast, where a third of the police were based.

Speaking to the crowd in Limavady, which staged the flagship march, Orange Order Deputy Grand Master Rev Alistair Smyth said: “I congratulate the officers of Limavady District on winning flagship status and pay a very warm tribute to all of them on the huge amount of work that they have put in.

“The energy and resolve which was found in our forefathers is obviously alive and well in this generation.”

He also condemned attacks on Catholic churches and the burning of effigies and election posters on bonfires but accused the Parades Commission of “aiding and abetting” intolerance.

In Dungannon, Co Tyrone, Grand Orange Lodge of Ireland Grand Master Edward Stevenson warned that a “graduated response” would follow the restrictions on the Ardoyne parade. He said: “Our campaign does not finish on the 12th of July. Rather, it will gain momentum in the weeks and the months ahead.”

In Ballinderry, Co Derry, Orange Order Grand Secretary Drew Nelson called the watchdog “an out-of-control political monster that needs to be suppressed”. He added: “The onus to do this rests with the Secretary of State [Theresa Villiers] and we would call on her to exercise her authority in this regard at the earliest opportunity.”

Among the groups taking part in yesterday’s parades were an Orange Lodge from Nevada in the US.